The Hollow by Agatha Christie

"The Hollow" by Agatha Christie. This book is published by HarperCollins in 2002.

There is a gathering of distant cousins, friends and their families at Lady Lucy and Sir Henry Angkatell's estate, 'The Hollow'. Guests include Midge - Lucy's cousin, Dr. John and his beautiful but stupid wife Gerda, Henrietta - a sculptor, Edward Angkatell, another cousin David and Hercule Poirot. Veronica, John's ex, also gate crashes.

There's a murder. Who is murdered? What is the motive? Whodunit?

It's a typical Agatha mystery with a large house of rich people, many characters, murder in the house, many suspects, scattered clues and mystery.

What I liked most of this book was the fantastic characterization. It's an assortment of peculiar characters. Lucy who is absent minded, vague, has hyper active mind. Henrietta who is devoted to work, slightly ruthless, in love with John. Gerda who is slow and stupid, but not as much as everyone thinks. Dr. John, a magnet for women, who has had a number of affairs and is passionate about finding cure to Ridgway's decease. Edward who is book lover and would not marry if not Henrietta, Veronica a typical egotistical star who gets what she wants with her charm etc.

The interrelations between characters are also curious. There are tangled feelings of love, care, protectiveness, sympathy between the characters. Some questions remain with the readers. Why John did not marry Henrietta? Why did John marry Gerda? Why did Gerda worship John? Why Henrietta cared for Gerda? Did Edward love Midge?

While reading the book I learned a new word Yggdrasil. Search for the meaning yourself :) !!

One important thing that is almost missing from this book is the investigation, that tantalizing cat and mouse game, gathering of clues and deductive reasoning. Readers are left unsatisfied because murder mystery is not only about finding the murderer but also the process of finding the murderer. The mystery is revealed on its own. As a result Hercule Poirot's role is much smaller as compared to other Agatha mysteries. End is also unconvincing.

The buildup is good but then the remaining story and climax does not live up to the expectation. I sort of fizzles out.

An OK book. Not a must read.

Crooked house by Agatha Christie

"Crooked house" by Agatha Christie. This book is published by Harper in 2002 and has 416 pages. This is a Agatha Christie murder mystery not featuring Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple.

A rich old man is murdered by poisoning. He has a big family, all living in the same house. Sofia, his grand daughter is the fiancee of the narrator of the story and his father is assistant commissioner if police. A little girl knows something. Murder victim's young wife is roumored to have an affair with little girl's teacher. Company of victim's son is on the verge of bankruptcy. Other soon of victim is jealous of this son. Sister of victims first wife hates victim.

Is the murder in the family? Or is the murderer an outsider? Will there be another murder? Whodunit?

This is a typical Agatha novel. Rich man, big family, murder, many suspects, an outsider, clues scattered intelligently & revelation towards the end.

This is a relatively short novel. As a result it's decently paced making it crisp, instead of usual slow pace of Agatha novels. As I read the book, I realized that I had read it a few years ago. Since I knew the murderer, the suspense was lost on me.

This is another mystery, based on a nursery rhyme, by Agatha Christie (Others include Ten little Indians, Hickory dikory dock, Pocket full of rye etc.). The characterization is good and story is also good. Actually, for a change, there is no detective in this novel.

A good book. Recommend reading.

Banquet on the dead by Sharath Komarraju

"Banquet on the dead" by Sharath Komarraju. The book is published by Westland Ltd. in 2012 and has 265 pages. This is Sharath's second novel.

An eighty year old matriarch (Kauveramma) of a well to do house dies by falling into a well within the compound of house in a town named Hanamkonda. But the lady was extremely terrified of water. Autopsy shows that she died before drowning. Her house consists of three sons (one unmarried, one lame and one married with wife and children), one widow daughter with her married son & unmarried daughter and servants.

Upon request of a family member police inspector seeks help of Mulla Hamid Pasha (An ex criminal who has 'gone clean' for 15 years) as private investigator. When the investigation starts skeletons start tumbling out of closets. Every family member seems to have something to hide.

Was it an accident? Or was it a murder? What was the motive? Whodunit?

It is evident that the story does not take place in present times. Author has placed the story in indeterminate recent past.

I found a lot of similarities with Agatha Christie mysteries. Rich lady murdered, big house, number of relatives, meticulously laid out plot, slow pace, polite detective, too many clues and lot of sub plots, revelation of murderer at the end etc. Sharath has demonstrated a completely different style of writing from his previous book. He has shown his versatility.

The book has a noir title, but it's a murder mystery, a classic whodunit! How ever I was able to guess the murderer early enough.

It would have become more interesting if author had provided map of the house and property around.

Author has left a few loose ends and minor mysteries unresolved like why Swami and Karuna hate each other? What was the tipping point about decision of murder? What is the mysterious illness troubling the doctor? Why book is titled the way it is? These may not be significant things but would have tidied the story.

If you like Agatha Christie mysteries, you might like this.

Pocket full of Rye by Agatha Christie

"Pocket full of Rye" by Agatha Christie. This edition of the book is published by HarperCollins in 2012 and has 128 pages. This is a Miss Marple mystery.

Rex Fortescue is a successful businessman. He knows how to exploit things by less than legal means without breaking the law. One day he comes to the office, drinks tea and dies. Police are called and it is quickly established that the reason of death is by poison called Taxine but it was not given through his tea. Mr. Fortesque's pocket is full of cereal Rye.

He is survived by his beautiful second wife, Adel, 30 years younger and having affair with a young man, Two sons Lans & Percy and a daughter. Lans has been estranged after attempting money swindle, years ago. He lives in East Africa and returns after hearing the news. Percy is the obedient son helping his father in business. Daughter wants to marry a man with socialist leanings and the union is disproved by Rex. The household consists of wives of the two sons, sister of Rex's first wife, Mary Dove the house keeper, Mr. Crump the valet, Mrs crump the cook and Gladice the young servant girl.

Inspector Niel starts investigation. There are more murders. Mrs. Adel Fortesque is killed in her study after taking tea. This time the poison is potassium cyanide. The servant girl Gladice is found dead, strangled. Then enters Miss Marple.

Who called Miss Marple? Will Inspector Niel accept her presence? What is the mystery of Rye? Who put the black birds in the pie instead of veal? Are there any more murders? Whodunit?

The story is small and crispy. Miss Marple enters after half way. Everyone seems to have a motive. Most of them seem to have an alibi for atleast one of the three murders. Who is it?

Agatha has delivered another murder mystery nonchalantly. You do not lose interest in the story and keep trying to find the murderer. Miss Marple eventually find the murderer for us, but she gets a vital help that readers don't. Readers think that Miss Maple had an undue advantage over them.

The reference and significance of nursery rhyme 'Sing a song of sixpence...' is used intelligently, though this was not the only time she has used the idea.

A good book. Read if you liked the review.

Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie

"Sparkling Cyanide" by Agatha Christie. The book is published by Harper in 1992 and is 226 pages long. This is neither a Hercule Poirot mystery nor a Miss Marple mystery. The detective is Colonel Race, a rarity. A classic whodunit.

Rosemary, a rich and extremely beautiful heiress, who received all her money from her godfather, dies after drinking glass of sparkling wine laced with cyanide after a toast during a party in a restaurant. She was married to a man older than her (George) and had extra marital affairs. Police term her death as a suicide.

There are a number of suspects. Ruth Lessing (Agatha's pun does not go unnoticed) secretary of George, who secretly wants to marry George. Antony Brown, Rosemary's lover who has done jail and whose past is now reveled. Steven Faraday, a politician and Rosemary's lover who is annoyed that she wants him to divorce his wife, forgo his career and marry her. Alexandra (Sandra) Faraday, Steven's wife, who knew about the affair. George Barton, Rosemary's husband, who knew and accepted her love affairs. Iris, Rosemary's younger sister who will inherit her fortune when she turns 21?

George gets letters indicating that Rosemary did not commit suicide but was murdered. Instead of going to police George devices a trap and invites Colonel Race to investigate. Everything appears to be set when there is another murder exactly in the same fashion. Now police come into the picture and Inspector Kemp starts investigations with Colonel Race.

Were these murders? Or were they suicides? Who was the second victim? Can the investigators succeed in pinning down the murderer? Whodunit?

It was interesting to read Agatha mystery without Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple. It's a classic case where everyone seems to have a motive but no one seems to be the murderer. The story is laid decently, though not spectacularly, as usual.

The murderer is not the least suspected in this story but the most suspected for a change.

An OK read. Read if you have time.